Top Nagar & Other Style Temples in India

Top Nagar & Other Style Temples in India

Temples of Nagar Style

The states where Nagar-style temples are prominently found are Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc.

Temples of Odisha

Odisha is the richest state in terms of Nagar-style temples. The temples of Odisha are mainly in Bhubaneshwar, Puri, and Konark, which were built between the 8th and 13th centuries AD.

Three temples of Odisha are very famous:

1. Lingaraj Temple

• Location: Bhubaneshwar, Khurda district

• Main Deity: Tribhubaneshwar Shiva, i.e., Lingaraj

• Built by: Kesari ruler in 11th century AD

2. Jagannath Temple

• Location: Puri, Puri district

• Main Deities: Jagannath (i.e., Krishna), his brother Balbhadra (i.e., Balram), and his sister Subhadra

• Built by: Eastern Gang King Anantverma Chodgang (1076-1147)

• Other Name: White Pagoda (called by European mariners for the sake of landmark)

3. Sun Temple

• Location: Konark, Puri district

• Main Deity: The Sun (Surya)

• Built by: Eastern Gang King Narsimhadeo (1238-64) during 1243-55

• Other Name: Black Pagoda (by European mariners for the sake of landmark)

Temples of Madhya Pradesh

1. Temples of Khajuraho Group

Amongst temples of Madhya Pradesh, temples of Khajuraho (Chhatarpur district) are very famous.

• Built by: Chandela Kings during 9th-12th century AD

• Original Number of Temples: 85 (now only 25 left)

• Religions: Shaivite, Vaishnavite, Shakt, and Jain

Notable Temples:

• Shaivite: Kandariya Mahadev temple (built by Chandela king Dhangdeo 1209 AD)

• Vaishnavite: Vaikunth Vaishnav or Luxman temple (built by Chandela king Yashovarman in 939 AD)

• Shakt: Shisasurmardini temple (built in 54 AD)

Other temples of the Khajuraho group:

• 64 Yogini (922)

• Brahma temple (925)

• Varah temple (950)

• Ghantai temple (885)

• Lalgun Mahadev temple (900)

• Hanuman temple, Vishwanath temple (1000)

• Ganesh temple (1000)

• Matangeshwar temple

• Rishabhdeo/Adinath temple (1027)

• Vaman temple (1062)

• Devi Jagadambi temple (1023)

• Chitragupta temple (1023)

• other Vaishnav temples (1090)

• Chaturbhuj (Vishnu) temple (1110)

• Dauladeo temple (1125).

Special Features: Idols of Digpalas, Apsaras, animals, and birds. The influence of Tantric ideology is visible in erotic decorative idols.

2. Other Temples of Madhya Pradesh

• Keshavnarayan temple & Matsyendranath Machhendranath temple of Amarkantak (Anooppur district)

• 64 Yogini temple of Bheraghat (Jabalpur district)

• Neelkanth/Udayeshwar temple of Udaypur gaon (Vidisha district), built by Parmar ruler Udayaditya in 11th century AD

Temples of Rajasthan

Among the temples of Rajasthan, Dilwara's Jain temples are the most famous.

• Location: Mount Abu (Arbud Parvat) at Dilwara in Sirohi district

• Material: White marble of Makrana

• Number of Temples: 5 (2 pre-medieval, 3 medieval)

Notable Dilwara Temples:

1. Vimal Vasati/Rishabhdeo Temple (1031)

   • Built by Vimal Shah (minister of the Solanki ruler Bhim)

   • Main Deity: Rishabhdeo/Adinath

   • Famous for fine carving and amazing sculptures

2. Lun Vasati/Tejpal-Vastupal/Devarani-Jethani/Neminath Temple (1230)

   • Built by Tejpal & Vastupal to commemorate their late brother Lun

   • Main Deity: Neminath

3. Parshwanath/Chaumukh Temple (1458)

   • Built by Mandalik

   • Main Deity: Parshwanath

   • The highest temple in Dilwara

4. Rishabhdeo/Adinath temple (1468)

   • Built by Bhima Shah

   • Idol made in Panchdhatu (main metal: Pital)

5. Mahavir Swami Temple (1582)

   • Main Deity: Mahavir Swami, 24th and last Teerthankar of the Jain religion

Other temples in Rajasthan:

• Osian (Jodhpur district) famous for Jain and Brahmanic temples (Mahavir Swami temple, Surya temple, etc.)

Temples of Gujarat

Nagar-style temples were built in Gujarat during the early medieval period, mostly by Solanki rulers of Anihalwara.

Notable Temples:

1. Surya (Sun) temple of Modhera (Mehsana dist.)—built by Solanki ruler Bhim in 1026-27

2. Someshwar Mahadev Temple of Somnath (Junagarh Dist.)—rebuilt by Solanki ruler Bhim

3. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple of Sunak (Mehsana Dist.)—Built by Solanki ruler Jaisingh Siddhraj in 1095

4. Rudramahalaya/Rudramal Temple of Siddhpur (Patan dist.)—Built by Solanki ruler Jaisingh Siddhraj

5. Neminath & Mallinath Temple of Girnar parvat/Raiwatgiri (Junagarh Dist.)—Neminath (1128-29), Mallinath (built by Vastupal & Tejpal)

6. Chaumukhi Adinath Temple at Satrunjay Pahari of Palitana (Bhavnagar Dist.)—built by a rich merchant in 1618

Temples of Vesar Style

Built by the Early Chalukya of Badami (543-757), the Western Chalukya of Kalyani (973-1190), and the Hoyasala of Dwarsamudra (12th-14th century).

• During the Early Chalukya period, both Nagar and Dravida styles were built simultaneously at Aihole and Pattadkal (7th-8th century).

• Example: Papnath temple (Nagar style), Sagameshwar & Virupaksh temples (Dravida style)

• Result: Introduction of a new style—Vesar style (combination of both)

Rashtrakuta Architecture (752-973)

• Cave Temples: Ellora and Elephanta

• Notable Temples: Ravan ki Khai, Dashawatar, Kailashnath temple (Ellora)

• Elephanta: Trimurti of Maheshwar, Shiv Tandav (Natraj), Shiv Parvati Vivah

Western Chalukya & Hoyasala Temples

Notable Temples:

• Kalleshwar temple (Kuknoor)

• Lakkundi/Laukikgundi Jain temple (Dharwad)

• Mukteshwar

• Siddheshwar

• Someshwar & Siddh Rameshwar temples (Dharwad)

• Mahadev temple (Ittagi)

• Kashi Vishweshwar temple (Kakkundi)

• Mallikarjuna temple (Bellary)

• Hoyasaleshwar temple (Halebid)

Temples of Dravida Style

Built by Pallava of Kanchi, Chola of Tanjore, and Pandya of Madurai during the early medieval period.

Pallava Architecture (575-897)

Four styles developed during the Pallava period:

Shore Temple: Named because it is located near the sea-shore

Chola Architecture (850-1279)

• Famous Temples:

  1. Vrihadeshwar/Rajrajeshwar temple of Tanjore (built by Rajraj-I)

  2. Temple of Gangaikondacholapuram (built by Rajendra-I)

Pandya Architecture (1190-1311)

• Dravida style continued

• Specialty: Construction of boundary walls and grand Gopurams (temple entrances)

• Famous Gopurams: Tirumalai temple, Chidambaram temple, Kumbakonam temple

Final Thoughts

India’s temple architecture reflects its rich history, culture, and devotion. The Nagar style, seen in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, gave us marvels like the Lingaraj, Jagannath, Konark Sun Temple, Khajuraho group, Dilwara Jain temples, and Modhera Sun Temple.

These temples are known for their detailed carvings, spiritual symbolism, and artistic excellence. Alongside, the Vesar style blended Nagar and Dravida elements under the Chalukyas and Hoyasalas.

The Dravida style, perfected by the Pallavas, Cholas, and Pandyas, gifted India grand temples like Brihadeshwara of Tanjore and striking gopurams. Together, these styles showcase India’s unmatched heritage in stone.